It’s Who We Are by Christine Webber

Author:Christine Webber [Webber, Christine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780995454040
Publisher: Orion
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

‘I don’t exactly know how to begin,’ Hannah announced, her voice breathily excited. ‘But as we arrived, I heard Mum say something about you lot being like a real family who all get on really well together! And that’s fantastic, because I have some amazing news which is going to affect most of you. And I really hope you’re going to love it.’

‘Sounds intriguing,’ Araminta laughed. They had all helped themselves to more of the lunch buffet, and had then moved to the dining room, where Michael poured each of them wine, or water, or both.

Hannah and Farid had been the last to join them, lingering in the kitchen for a while, having what Michael perceived to be a very intense conversation. He hoped all was well. Hannah was such a lovely girl. It was probably too soon for his feelings to be ‘fatherly’, but he certainly wanted the best for her.

Once in the dining room, Hannah had sat at one end of the long table and Farid at the other.

‘Yes,’ Hannah continued in response to her mother’s comment, ‘it is intriguing. I’ve been working on it for about a month now. But it only really took shape when I involved Farid. So, if you’re ready, I’ll start.’

‘That sounds like something they used to say on Listen With Mother,’ Wendy remembered.

‘Yes,’ Philip agreed, with a nostalgic smile. ‘Are you sitting comfortably? Then I’ll begin…’

‘My mum and I listened too.’ Michael joined in. ‘I suppose everyone of our vintage did. Now there’s so much choice I don’t suppose you ever get the whole nation glued to one programme. Shame really.’

‘Right, here goes,’ Hannah said as soon as there was a lull in the older people’s reminiscences. ‘When my grandfather went into the care home, I volunteered to clear up his papers. I thought it was something I could help with. And I suppose, having always been close to Grandad, I thought it’d be interesting to find out more about him. Well,’ she paused dramatically. ‘I couldn’t have begun to guess how very interesting it would be.’

‘Are we going to like this?’ Wendy’s question reflected her sudden sense of foreboding that Hannah’s speech would not end well.

‘I’m sure you will,’ Hannah’s young voice burbled. And despite there being an uncertain and slightly bemused air in the room, most of them found themselves smiling at her enthusiasm.

‘To be honest though, it will be a shock. But I think the fact that you all get on so brilliantly will mean you’ll be thrilled in the end. There’s just one thing – what I’m about to say doesn’t have anything to do with you, Julian. So, I don’t know how the others feel about you being in on the conversation.’

‘Well, he’s not going to leave.’ Wendy’s tone was the one she had deployed over decades to quell any argument in the febrile atmosphere of a news studio. ‘He’s our friend. He’s been invited for lunch. He’s an absolute dear…’ She looked around at the others, suddenly unsure.

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